The Merendero Lake

Address: Corner of Calle Colon and Calle Constitution
Ph: (376) 766 1571

Hours of Operation:  Daily 12PM - 7:30PM
Facebook: The Merendero Lake
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Directions: From Walmart head west on the Carretera to a right on Calle Juarez, one block past Calle Colon in Ajijic. Turn right on Calle Flores and right on Calle Colon. The Merendero Lake Restaurant is 4 blocks down, on the corner of Calle Colon and Calle Constitution. It is on the Calle Ocampo side of Calle Colon. Parking is very limited on Colon, Constitution and Ocampo.

First Impressions

The Merendero Lake is located on the corner of Calle Ocampo and Calle Colon, in the heart of Ajijic. It is a pleasant little café, with lunch specials listed on a sandwich board on the sidewalk.

We have often passed by and smelled the delicious aromas wafting through open windows and remarked that we would have to visit.

The Menu

The Lake Merendero advertises their hamburger specials, and offer a variety of hamburger plates on the menu ranging in price from $55 pesos to $75 pesos, all accompanied with French fries. There are also a tempting variety of salads, soup, alfredo, baguette sandwiches, and savory and sweet crepes.



We ordered the Hamburger Nortena plate as the $95 peso special of the day, which included a glass of wine. The hamburger was cooked perfectly, no pink at all in the middle, served with a tomato slice, lettuce, caramelized onions and chipotle sauce. This is definitely one of the best hamburgers lakeside.

We also ordered a bleu cheese salad, with pecans, pear and chopped fresh greens and of course, huge chunks of bleu cheese. Most salads were priced at $65 pesos.

Service was casual, polite and leisurely. The chef came out from the kitchen and checked to see that our meals were cooked to our satisfaction.

We ordered a dessert to split between us. The waitress recommended crepes, with blackberries and cream cheese served with ice cream. It was so good that we are determined to return and order the crepes as an entrée.

The Lake Merendero serves sangria, wine, beer and some mixed drinks, which are listed on the chalkboard.

Ambiance

The Merendero Lake is a pleasant café, with an open air feel about it. Customers can see into the kitchen, and everything appears very clean. This is a place where you run into all the people you know in town, whether eating in the café or passing by.

There is a television in the corner and golden oldie music playing in the background. None of it seems out of place in this upscale burger joint.

 

Price

The prices on the menu are moderate, in keeping with similar restaurants in Ajijic. The lunch special was $95 pesos and included a glass of wine. Entrees are priced from $55 pesos to $120 pesos. Wine was $50 pesos for a large glass. Our meal, two entrees, four glasses of wine, and dessert totaled $358 pesos.

Our Recommendation ***

The Lake Merendero is a great place for lunch, and if you are hankering for a hamburger, this is probably the best one in town. Salads are delicious and just the right size and desserts are unique to the area - where almost every restaurant offers flan for dessert. We will definitely be back for more.

Lake Taco

Address: Libramiento Chapala Ajijic #132, Plaza Interlago Interior #23
Phone: 331 230 6173, 376 766 2945
Hours of Operation: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Facebook Page: Lake Taco Ajijic

Directions: Turn north, on the road directly across from Walmart. This is the Libramiento.. Head up this road approximately 1/4 mile and turn right into the Pemex Station. Lake Taco is located next to the Car Wash under the large palapa.

 

First Impressions

Lake Taco is located in the corner of a strip mall just north of Walmart on the Libramiento. It is easy to spot because of the large palapa that covers the outdoor dining area. Our first impression was that it looked like a nice spot for lunch. We like to sit outdoors to eat and enjoy the beautiful weather of Lake Chapala.

The dining area is clean and inviting. There are herbs planted around the patio and you can smell the strong scent of rosemary and lavender.

The waitress was laying across the serving bar, looking bored and tired, as we walked up to the hostess station. She roused herself long enough to seat us at a table in the corner and take our order.

Jim Morrison and The Doors were blasting from the speakers attached to the top of the palapa. We tried to talk to one another after we were seated, but only managed to hear a few words of our conversation. I looked around, but there was no way of escape. We were trapped in that 1960s time warp that so many local restaurants seem to think appeals to expats.

Menu

The menu is fairly limited, with items such as tacos and burritos, salads and hamburgers and side dishes of beans or French fries. Lake Taco opens at 9:00 a.m. so they also offer a breakfast menu.

Wine and beer are available, as well as a selection of non-alcoholic beverages. The restaurant also offers, according to their Facebook page, a full bar. We had a chicken burrito and a fish taco. Both were very good and freshly made.

Lake Taco is good place for lunch or breakfast, or for a quick taco, or burrito. Sometimes you need a place where you can just drop in for a quick snack, and Lake Taco is one of those places.

Ambiance

The dining patio at Lake Taco is casual and open air. We sat in the corner so we could have a view of the lake and the mountains. The dining area is clean and inviting. The only issue I have is with the loud, loud, loud music.

We like to chat during lunch and the music precluded any conversation that didn't involve shouting and gesticulating.

We could see the mountains to the north, and the lake in the distance from where we were sitting.
Lake Taco has wifi and there were customers on the patio, sipping coffee and reading their tablets.

There is a nice view from some areas of the patio. The waitress was pleasant, but quickly excused herself to go back to her lounging area on the bar.

Price

The items on the menu at Lake Taco are cheap.
This is not fine dining, by any stretch of the definition, but it is not meant to be. This is lakeside's version of Taco Bell.

You can eat two entrees and have a glass wine each for under $20.

 

Our Recommendation ***

This is an outdoor taco shack, good for lunch or a quick snack. The food is good and cheap. Someone please tell them to turn down the music so we can talk to one another over lunch and we might just linger a little longer.

Ritchie 88

Address: #41 Calle Colon, Ajijic
Telephone: 376-766-4185
Facebook Page: Ritchie 88
Hours:                  Tuesday - Saturday  9AM - 4PM
                             Sunday 9AM - 3PM

Directions:  From Walmart, head west on the Carreterra to a right on Calle Juarez, one block past Calle Colon in Ajijic. Turn right on Calle Flores, and right on Calle Colon. Head south for 2 1/2 blocks. Ritchie 88 will be on your right just before the plaza. Parking is limited in this area.

First Impressions

Wednesday is market day in Ajijic and we were going to be in town for the afternoon, so we made plans to try Ritchie 88, a highly recommended restaurant near the main plaza.

Ritchie 88 is ranked #2 on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Ajijic. That is high praise, considering how many wonderful restaurants are in the area.

Currently, Ritchie 88 is only open for breakfast and lunch, however, the owner, Patricia, told us that she plans to extend the hours until 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays, starting the week of February 10, 2014. The full lunch menu will be offered at night as well as dinner specials.

We arrived at Ritchie 88 at about noon and were the only ones in the café. We were met at the door by the owner who seated us in the outdoor patio area in the back of the restaurant.

The restaurant is clean, pleasant and wonderful aromas were wafting from the kitchen. There were specials written on the blackboards at the entrance and a sandwich board with the special of the day - shrimp burger.

Menu

The menu offered a nice selection of breakfast and lunch plates. Breakfast included a number of omelets, waffles, French toast, and eggs any style, served with beans or hash browns. I would have had a spinach and goat cheese omelet but we arrived too late.

Too bad, because it sounded amazing. Instead I ordered a spinach salad with warm goat cheese. It was served with a basket of fresh bread and was absolutely delicious.

My husband ordered a chicken baguette that was also very good. The presentation was done with care and was lovely.

After our lunch was served, we were left alone to dine, soft classical music playing in the background, the beautiful Mexican sun shining in the courtyard and a soft breeze blowing, just enough to turn the whirligig in the garden.

We had a very good meal in a pleasant atmosphere. It made me wonder why there are not more people dining in this wonderful little café.

After our meal, we were offered a small selection of desserts and decided to try the warm brownie, topped with ice cream and crushed nuts. It was very good.

The lunch menu offered a number of baguettes, soups and salads. The soup of the day was lentil and I was tempted to try that. Ritchie 88 has a large selection of hot and cold teas and coffees, as well as wine and beer.

We were very pleased with our meals and are anxious to return to sample the selections off the breakfast menu.

 

Ambiance

The outside of the restaurant, in Ajijic, rarely suggests the ambiance inside the restaurant, and such is the case with Ritchie88. It has a modest, unassuming exterior and a bistro-like atmosphere inside.

There is art on the walls inside, classical music playing in the background and a courtyard with covered outdoor seating. There are orange trees, a pomegranate tree and wind chimes singing in the breeze.

Inside the restaurant is another  small dining room. The atmosphere is cozy and romantic.
I think it is a good idea for Ritchie 88 to offer extended hours, as this is a beautiful spot for a romantic, intimate dinner.

 

Service

We were served by the owner herself and she made sure that we were well taken care of and happy with the taste and quality of the food. But, otherwise, she left us alone to enjoy our meal. She made suggestions from the menu and made us aware of the specials of the day. Overall, the service was very good, which you would expect if waited on by the owner of the establishment!

 

Price

The prices are moderate, with house wine by the glass priced at $35 pesos and most entrees priced at about $70 - $86 pesos. Our total bill, with two entrees, hot chocolate, coffee latte, tea and dessert came to $260 pesos, about $20.

Our Recommendation ****

The lunch menu at Ritchie 88 is very good and we can recommend it to you for lunch. We plan to return to sample the breakfast menu. This is a nice place for lunch, close to the plaza but with intimate dining and excellent service.

Mario's Restaurant Familiar

Address: Ramon Carona #132,  San Antonio Tlayacapan
Phone: (376) 766 1452
Hours of Operation: Tuesday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Closed Monday

Directions: From Walmart, head east on the Carretera, approximately 1/4 mile. Turn right on Calle San Jose. This is the right turn just before Superlake. Drive toward the lake for two blocks. Turn left on Ramon Carona. Mario's Restaurant Familiar is about 1/2 block on the left. It you reach the intersection by the plaza, you have gone too far.

First Impressions

Mario's Restaurant Familiar is located less than half a block from the central plaza in the small pueblo of San Antonio, Tlayacapan  It is the first place we eat that was recommended to us by a long time resident - our landlord. We ate there on our second day in the Lake Chapala area. We stopped into meet her at the real estate office and when we inquired about a really good restaurant for lunch, she suggested Mario's - in fact, she said she would take us there herself.

"Get in the car," she insisted, "I know a really good place for lunch." And off we drove, the wrong way down one way streets, weaving, whistling and talking the entire way. We pulled in front of a place that, had I not been introduced by Beverly, we might never have tried on our own. The restaurant looks very simple and rustic from the outside, with a sliding screen door and the name of the restaurant painted on the wall. I already suspected that Beverly was a little crazy, so was not sure what we would find inside.

But, to my surprise, the restaurant was clean and  pleasant and the owner and staff friendly and welcoming. We were off to a good start.

Menu

A daily lunch menu offers a large variety of dishes that includes seafood and beef dishes and salads. The daily specials are written on a white board - in Spanish. The waiter will gladly translate.

For lunch, we had Arrechera, recommended by our host, and fried shrimp with mango sauce.  The shrimp may just be the best I have had since arriving in town. It was a memorable meal. Our lunch was accompanied by fresh corn tortillas.

Other items on the menu included hamburgers and French Fries, shrimp cooked in a variety of ways, pescado (fish) dishes, and salads. A breakfast menu is available before noon.


So, a week later, we decided to return to Mario's Restaurant Familiar to try some of the delicious looking items on the  breakfast menu. This time we sat in the back of the restaurant, in an open courtyard behind the kitchen.

We ordered Huevos Rancheros and were treated to a feast that began with chips and salsa presented in a stone molcajete. The Huevos Rancheros were served with beans and freshly made corn tortillas.

We also had fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee.

 

Ambiance

Mario's Restaurant Familiar is a neighborhood café. It is not a place that is easy to find for first time visitors to Lake Chapala, but it is worth the journey into the small pueblo of San Antonio, Tlayacapan to experience a taste of authentic Mexican cooking.

The restaurant is simple, but clean and inviting. There is a very pleasant open dining area surrounded by green plants, reached by walking through the kitchen area.

Service is homey, friendly, and personal. After all, this is a family owned business.

Price

The price range for breakfast is between $50 and $95 pesos. Dinner entrees are also moderately priced. Two can have a filling seafood lunch for less than $240 pesos, about $18 dollars at the current exchange rate.

Our Recommendation ****

If you want a taste of excellent, authentic, Mexican cooking in a family owned restaurant, make the effort to find Mario's Restaurant Familiar. Try the shrimp with mango sauce. You will not be disappointed.

 

Tony's Plus Restaurant Bar

Address: Carretera Chapala-Jocotepec #149, San Antonio, Tlayacapan
Phone: 376-766-4614  Reservations: 376-766-4069
Hours of Operation: Thursday - Tuesday 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Closed Wednesday
Facebook Page: Restaurante Tony's Plus
Email: Tonysplus@live.com

Directions: From Walmart travel east on the Carretera approximately 1/2 mile. Tony's will be on the right (lakeside) in the Superlake shopping center. There is parking in front of Tony's Restaurant.

First Impressions

Tony's Restaurant Bar is not the kind of place that I would normally choose to dine. Quaint is okay with me and so is funky. But Tony's is located in a run down strip mall along the Carretera.

However, this restaurant is close to where I live and came highly recommended to us by many friends who have lived here for a long time.

Tony's is well known for high quality steak dinners. So, we finally got up the nerve to give it a try. Tony also owns the carniceria next door so you know his steaks are fresh.

Tony's Plus Restaurant Bar is a place we have returned to several times because of the menu selections and the consistent quality of the food.

 

Menu

Tony's Restaurant has a large and varied menu that include salads, soups, appetizers, chicken dishes, shrimp, pork and steak as well as daily specials.

A nice selection of traditional Mexican dishes are also available, such as burritos, tacos on flour or corn tortillas, and beef or chicken fajitas.

As soon as you are seated, a waiter brings a plate of corn totopos to the table, along with a bowl of pico de gallo, pickled carrots and a mango salsa to help you stave off hunger while you wait for your meal to be cooked to order.

If you prefer to start your meal with a fresh salad, there are several from which to choose -  green salad, Cesar salad and a mixed salad, as well as variations of these that include meat.


The steak menu offers T-Bone, Rib Eye and Arrachera, a tender marinated steak, and Beef Shish Kebob.

Meals are served with your choice of flour or corn tortillas.

Ask the waiter what is available for dessert and he will recite a list of pies -  peanut butter, pecan  and lemon pie - as well as cheesecake and flan.

We chose the flan to split between us and it was delicious.

Ambiance

Tony's interior is decorated with murals depicting the lake and mountains. There are plants hanging from the ceiling and an open courtyard at the back of the restaurant. The entire front is open to the street, which some may find unpleasant.

Like many restaurants in town, they play music from the 1960's and 1970's that they must think all Norte Americanos of a certain age like to hear. I want to go on record now that I have heard enough Classic Rock music to last me the rest of my life.

I wish they would just play Mexican music - softly - in the background. After all, we came here to enjoy the local culture. During an afternoon meal very recently, a dog somewhere behind the courtyard was barking nonstop through our entire meal. 

Tony's is a fine place for lunch or early dinner and the food is good. But, the environment is not conducive to romantic dinners or a special occasion. There is too much noise, from outside the restaurant and from within.

Service

Though we have heard some complaints about spotty service at Tony's, we have always enjoyed good service from the waiters. They are polite and prompt.

They do not hover around us, but check periodically to make sure our dinner is good and that we don't need anything at that moment. They are knowledgeable about the menu and specials.

Price

I have included some pictures from the actual menu that includes prices. Tony's is moderately priced, about the same as finer restaurants in Ajijc. The day we ate at Tony's, we had two glasses of wine each, two entrees and a dessert between us and the final bill was $360 pesos, about $30. I certainly cannot complain about those prices!

Our Recommendation ***

Tony's Plus Restaurant is a nice place for a casual meal, for a steak dinner or Mexican food. The quality is consistent and the prices right.